Water filling apparatus



o. M. QANDEHRSON WATER FILLING APPARATUS Jul 24, 1951 2 Shets-Shet 1 Filed Nov. 16, 1946.

vnna r r y NDERfSON OSCAR MA 0 1M; LANDERSON "Q";12,561,836 WATER FILLING APPARATUS z she'qtsgsheet 2 sii a novg a', .1946 1 OSCAR M-ANDERSON Patented July 24,- 1951 ws'raa manic arrans'rus Oscar M. Anderson, to Lenders, Frary New name, com. manor 8: Clark, New

Britain, com, 7

a corporation of Connecticut Application November 18, 1946, Serial No. 710.297

8 Claims. I

The present invention relates generally to dishwashing machines and the like, and more particularly to a semi-automatic device for introducing a measured quantity of water to an associated apparatus such as a dishwashing machine.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can be used in cooperation with a conventional source of tap water for facilitating the introduction of a measured quan-- tity of water into a dishwashing machine or the like. .It is an aim of the invention to provide such a device which is of simple construction and arranged for mounting with the machine in a compact and efllcient manner adjacent a conventional type of water tap, as for example. beneath or adjacent a kitchen sink, without interfering with the normal usage of the sink and water tap.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a measuring and filling apparatus for dishwashing machines which is semi-automatic in operation and thus not susceptible to accidental or inadvertent misuse. It is particularly desired to provide a device which will function substantially semi-automatically in the sense that water cannot be introduced into the deventional kitchen sink ll.

vice from the water tap while a measured quantity of water is being transferred from the device to a dishwashing machine and conversely that the device cannot be drained, 1. eits contents transferred to the dishwashing machine, while the device is receiving water from the water tap.

Other objects will he in part obvious and in part pointed out more in detail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplifled in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings: 1

Figure 1 is a top view of the device mounted in a conventional casing or cabinet supporting a kitchen sink;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side view partially in cross section showing the device in filling position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view partially in cross section with the device in draining position;

Fig. '4 is a fragmentary top view partially in cross section taken alon the line H of Fig. 3. Reicrring to the drawings, the device or the 1 erally elongated and cylindrical in form present invention is shown mounted in a suitable cabinet or casing II which supports a con- Arranzed with the sink is a standard faucet I! of the type which is pivoted at one Lend and has associated therewith the usual hot and cold water valves i1 and It in the usual manner.

In the specific embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the device is arranged for use with a dishwashing machine l5 disposed in the cabinet or casing ll beneath the sink ii. The dishwashing machine ii, for the most part, is shown only diagrammatically as the details of the machine form nopart of the present'invention. For the purposes of the present disclosure, it has been deemed necessary only to show the exterior of the dishwashing machine ii which comprises the housing I 8 and a water pump il secured to the bottom thereof- The device of the present invention is positioned, in the embodiment shown. adjacent a rear corner of the dishwashing machine housing II and a rear corner of the sink H and is adapted to receive water to a predetermined amount from the faucet i2 and then transfer this water. when desired, to the dishwashing machine II. A main element of the tank II which, in the embodiment shown, is genand extends vertically alongside the dishwashing machine housing It. The size of the tank II is such that, when it is filled with water, it contains the desired amount of water for use at one time in the dishwashing machine IS. The measuring tank II is connected directly to the dishwashing machine It by means of a-suitable conduit I! which communicates with an opening II in the bottom end member 2! of the measuring tank ll.

The measuring tank It is adapted to be filled with water through a filler tube 22 which is pivotally connected at one end to the upper end of a tube 23 which extends upwardly from the top end member 24 of the measuring tank II. In accordance with the invention, the tiller tube 22 is so constructed and mounted that it cannot be moved into a position where it may be filled with tap water from the faucet i2 without contemporaneously preventing the flow of water from the tank II to the dishwashing machine II and, conversely. that the transfer of water from the measuring tank It to the dishwashing machine ll cannot be made to take place when the filler tube 22 is in position for receiving tap water from the faucet It. In the specific embodiment shown device is a measuring in the drawing, this is accomplished as follows:

The upper end'oi the tube 23 extends through the top of the cabinet or casing It and received therein is a bushing 25 which extends for a short distance into the tube 23 and which has an annular rim or'ilange 23 overlying the top board of the cabinet or casing "I, said flange 23 forming an upper shoulder upon which rests a flange 21 formed on the filler tube 22. The filler tube 22 extends downwardly within the bushing 23 and is pivotally retained therein by the snap ring 23 engaging the lower end of the bushing. 23 and a shoulder 23 formed in the filler tube 22.

The outward extension or the length of the filler tube 22 is so related to the length of the faucet l2 that the filler tube is illlable with tap water from the faucet l2 only when the filler tube is pivoted to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. When the filler tube 22 is pivoted to the position shown in Fig. 3 and also shown in .dotted lines in Fig. 1, it is entirely impossible for water to be introduced therein from the faucet l2. Means is provided to limit the pivoting or the filler tube 22 to the extent of the two positions referred to. This means comprises a pin 33 fixed to the tube 23 and a slot 3| in the filler tube 22 for receiving the pin 30, this slot 3| extending for only 90", thereby limiting the pivoting of the filler tube 22 to a quarter turn, as previously described.

The pivoting of the filler tube 22 between 1111- ing and non-filling positions is utilized to automatically control the draining of the contents of the measuring tank i3 into the dishwashing machine l5. This is accomplished b providing a closure member or stopper 32 for the opening 23 in the bottom end member 2| and providing means for positioning the stopper in accordance with the pivoted position of the filler tube 22. The means utilized in the specific embodiment shown in the drawings to accomplish this opera tion comprises a perforated cup member 33 which is rotatably housed in the tube 23 to receive the extension 34 of the filler tube 22, such extension being of lesser diameter so as to be Ireely received within the cup member 33.

Extending between the stopper 32 and the cup member 33 and extension 34 is a connecting rod 35 which is fixed at its lower end to the stopper 32 and which, at its upper end. extends upwardly through the cup member 33 and is then bent at right angles to form a right-angled extension '33 which is slidably received in a slot 33 in the extension 34 of the filler tube 22 and which is secured at its end to the cup member 33.

As a result of the above construction, pivoting of the filler tube 22 from filling to non-filling position causes the connecting rod 35 and thus the cup member 30 to be pivoted a similar amount, this because of the connection between the filler tube 22 and the connecting rod 35 provided by the extension 36 received in the slot 31. The cup member 33 has secured to its bottom a generally triangularly-shaped member or segment 33 having an arcuate flange 33 of gradually increasing thickness in a clockwise direction, when viewed from above, thus providing a camming surface adapted to engage a. stud 43 fastened to the tube 23. As a result of the pivoting of the cup member 33, the camming surface on the flange 39 causes the cup member 33 to slide laterally upwardly in the tube 23 carrying with it the connecting rod 35 which thus withdraws the stopper 32 from the opening 20. When the filler tube 221s returned to filling position by pivoting in the reverse diiii tank and adapted to rection, the cup member 23 is permitted to slide laterally downwardly in the tube 23 thereby reinserting the stopper 32. in the opening 23. The stopper 32 is provided with a series or prongs or guiding members 4! which assist in the positioning or directing oi the stopper 32 into proper seating position within the opening 23.

It thus will be seen that, in accordance with the invention, the filler tube-22 can only cooperate with the faucet l2 for filling purposes when the filler tube is pivoted outwardly over the sink II and. when the tiller tube is in this position, the measuring tank is automatically prevented from discharging its contents into the dishwashing machine It Accordingly, no water can be transmitted directly from the faucet i2 into the dishwashing machine. As a result, the measuring tank l3 will be filled to the top and an continuation of the filling operation merely causes the water to harmlessly spill over tube 22 into the sink Ii. er tube 22, of course, indicates to the operator that the measuring tank It has been filled. When it is desired to transfer the contents of the measuring tank i3 to the dishwashing machine II. it is necessary only to pivot the filler tube 22 to its non-filling position where it is out of the way and will not interfere with the normal use of the taucet i2 or sink Ii. When the filler tube 22 is pivoted to this position, it is, or course, entirely impossible to introduce any more water into the measuring tank from the faucet l2. f

It will be appreciated that the construction of the device described above is simple and compact and may readily be combined with conventional sink cabinets or casings and with dishwashing machines and the like associated therewith. The device is semi-automatic in operation thereby greatly facilitating the introduction of measured quantities of water into an associated apparatus and it is so constructed that accidental improper use has been substantially avoided.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could' be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language used in the following claims is intendedto cover.

all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter at language, might be said to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

1. A filling device for introducing a measure quantity of water from a faucet to an associated apparatus comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the tank and the associated apparatus. a filler tube communicating with the tank and adapted to be moved into and out of water receiving position with respect to the faucet,

means for opening and closing said passageway,

and an interlock between said means and the filler tube for preventing movement of the filler tube into water receiving position when the passageway is open.

2. A filling device for introducing a measured quantity of water from a faucet to an associatedapparatus comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the tank and the associated apparatus, a filler tube communicating with the be moved into and out of the top of the filler f The overflow oi the iillwater receiving position with respect to the faucet, a closure member adapted to be moved into opening and closing position with respect to said passageway, interconnecting means between said closure member and filler tube whereby the closure member may be positioned by said tube, said means including an interlock whereby the closure member is retained in said passageway closing position except when the filler tube is in non-filling position.

3. A filling device for introducing a measured quantity of water from a faucet to an associated apparatus comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the tank and the associated apparatus, pivotally mounted filler tube for the tank adapted to be pivoted into and out of water receiving position with respect to the faucet, and closure means for the fluid passageway responsive to the pivoted position of the filler tube.

4. A filling device for introducing a measured quantity of water from a faucet to an associated apparatus comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the tank and the associated apparatus, a filler tube pivotally mounted at one end on the tank and adapted to be pivoted between water receiving and non-receiving positions with respect to the faucet, a closure member adapted to open and close said fluid passageway, and means responsive to pivoting movement of the flller tube for moving said closure member to opening position when the flller tube is moved to said non-receiving position and for moving the member to closing position when the tube is moved to water receiving position.

5. A filling device for introducing a measured quantity of water to an associated apparatus comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the tank and the associated apparatus, a filler tube pivotally mounted at one end on the tank for introducing water into the tank, a closure member adapted to open and close said I fluid passageway, and connecting means interconnecting said filler tube and closure member whereby the closure member is actuated to open and close the fluid passageway in response to the pivoted position of the fllier tube.

6. A filling device for introducing a measured quantity of water to an associated apparatus, comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the tank and the associated apparatus, a filler tube pivotally mounted at one end on the tank for introducing water into the tank, a stopper member adapted to be moved into and out of closing position with respect to said fluid passagewa'y, and a mechanical interlock between the flller tube and stopper member whereby the stopper member is withdrawn and retained from closing position at a predetermined pivoted position of the filler tube.

6 7. A filling device for introducing a measured quantity of water to an associated apparatus from a faucet comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the tank and the associated apparatus, a stopper adapted to be moved into and out of closing position with respect to said passageway, a filler tube pivotally mounted at one end of the measuring tank and adapted to be pivoted into water receiving and non-receiving positions with respect to the faucet, a connecting rod connected at one end to the stopper and mounted at the other end for rotation by the filler tube, and cam means associated with said connecting rod for moving the rod longitudinally to withdraw the stopper from closing position when the filler tube is turned to said non-receiving position.

8. A filling device for introducing a measured quantity of water to an associated apparatus from a faucet comprising a measuring tank, a fluid passageway between the bottom of the tank and an associated apparatus, a conduit for admitting water to the top of the tank, a filler tube pivotally mounted at one end on the conduit and adapted to be pivoted between water receiving and non-receiving positions with respect to the faucet, a stopper adapted to be moved vertically into and out of seating position with respect to the fluid passgeway, a connecting rod secured at one end to the stopper, a perforated cup member slidabiy disposed within the conduit, a right-angle extension on the connecting rod secured at the end to the cup member and received in a vertical slot in the filler tube whereby the rod and cup member are rotated when the filler tube is pivoted, a stud fixed to the conduit adjacent the cup member, and a cam surface on the cup member adapted to cooperate with the stud to raise the cup member and filler tube within the conduit and thus remove the stopper from its seat when the filler tube is pivoted to non-receiving position.

OSCAR M. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Tafel May 12, 1931 Wassmer Aug. 26, 1941 Sheerin Feb. 27, 1M5

FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain June 25, 1907 Number Number 

